From Alan Kulwicki’s Polish Victory lap in 1988 to Joey Logano’s dominant run in 2024, Phoenix Raceway has seen some memorable moments. The one-mile doglegged oval in Avondale had become NASCAR’s championship battlefield since 2020, crowning legends like Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Ryan Blaney as they battled for the Bill France Cup.
Just months ago, in September 2024, Phoenix Raceway proudly announced its fourth consecutive grandstand ticket sellout for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race scheduled for November 10, 2024. “The level of appreciation we hold toward our fans is boundless after selling out another Cup Series event at Phoenix Raceway,” Phoenix Raceway President Latasha Causey had declared at the time.
This was also in celebration of what was then the track’s seventh consecutive Cup Series sellout – a record that now rests in NASCAR’s history books rather than its present reality. However, a report by NASCAR insider Jeff Gluck dampened the occasion as NASCAR returned to Phoenix Raceway for its first race of the 2025 campaign.
Empty seats break the streak at Phoenix Raceway
What made Phoenix’s streak remarkable was how it weathered the post-pandemic landscape when many sporting venues struggled to recapture attendance figures. The desert track had successfully positioned itself as NASCAR’s premier championship destination, creating a demand that consistently outpaced supply. From its spring events to the season-culminating championship weekends, fans
But all streaks eventually end. NASCAR insider Jeff Gluck’s observation that “Phoenix did not announce a sellout crowd today” signals a significant shift for a track that had grown accustomed to hanging the “SOLD OUT” sign. This marks the first time since 2019 that the track’s grandstands weren’t filled for a Cup Series event – an unexpected development given the venue’s recent history of strong attendance.
Phoenix did not announce a sellout crowd today. Snaps a streak of seven straight sellouts, which I believe had been the longest in NASCAR.
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) March 9, 2025
The seven consecutive sellouts had become a point of pride for Phoenix Raceway, a testament to both NASCAR’s popularity in the Southwest and the track’s efforts to enhance the fan experience. As recently as March 2024, when announcing the sellout for the Shriners Children’s 500, Causey had emphasized that “Our fans at Phoenix Raceway are second to none. Their excitement for NASCAR racing generates an energy that is unmatched and makes our track a can’t-miss destination for sports fans in The Valley and across the country.”
Fans react to Phoenix Raceway’s milestone ending
As expected, the NASCAR community delivered a mixed bag of reactions to the news. One fan said on X, That’s because we all know Penske has his [money emoji] on this race and it is a wrap!” reflecting on the fact that the last three championship races held at Phoenix Raceway have been clinched by Team Penske. However, today’s race was won by Christopher Bell, and so was the previous spring race, so maybe times are changing at the dogleg oval.
“Time to take the championship race away!” said another fan. This is probably a knee-jerk reaction, but it isn’t a sentiment that only this fan holds. Various former NASCAR stars have been pushing for a shifting venue for the Championship race. Most notably, 2014 Cup Series Champion Kevin Harvick said last year, “If you had Las Vegas, Phoenix, Homestead that rotated that championship race, every three years you went to those locations…You want the weather to be good, but I’d love to see Las Vegas Motor Speedway have a championship race.”
Weather and money also play a huge role in Phoenix’s attendance. As one fan pointed out, “That’s because everyone would rather save their Phoenix visit for the championship weekend lol”. With the Championship race being in November, when the weather is slightly cooler, fans would be more inclined to make the trip southwest.
One fan dropped an honest take on the track, writing, “I love Phoenix, but man this gen 7 car has not been kind too it.” The Next-Gen car has had it’s issues at Phoenix, and this is no secret. From dirty air, to a lack of passing, races at the Desert Oddball tend to involve long stretches of drivers leading until a caution or a pit stop forces a lead change.
So, what do you think? Is the streak ending a sign of times changing? Should Phoenix Raceway be reduced to just one race a year? et us know in the comments!
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